Season series: This is the first of three meetings between the teams. They split a four-game season series in 2011-12.

Big story: The defending Stanley Cup champs enter Monday’s action seven points behind the San Jose Sharks in the Pacific Division. Furthermore, the Kings – who have one win in four tries -- have scored only eight goals.

Team scope:

Canucks: Vancouver was no match for the red-hot Sharks on Sunday night, as San Jose cruised past the Canucks by a 5-1 score at HP Pavilion. Alexandre Burrows had the lone goal for Vancouver, which allowed two goals in the first 3:26 of the contest.

"Power play wasn't as good," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said of his club’s man advantage, which went 0-for-7 Sunday night. "We were unable to score. A couple of unforced errors that ended up right on their tape and in the back of the net."

Kings: After getting off to an 0-2-1 start, Los Angeles finally earned its first win of the season Saturday night with a 4-2 victory at Phoenix. Anze Kopitar scored twice for the Kings, who won for the first time since hoisting the Stanley Cup last June.

"No one in here thought we were going to go 0-48, but when you lose the first three you sure don't want to let things get away," forward Justin Williams said. "It's been seven months and things don't come back at the snap of a finger. But it was time to win a game and get a little pressure off."

Who’s hot: Daniel Sedin leads the Canucks with six points (two goals, four assists) through the club’s first five games. … Kings forward Kyle Clifford has a goal and four assists in four contests.

Injury report: Vancouver is still without center Ryan Kesler, who's recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and forward David Booth (groin). … Kings defenseman Matt Greene, who underwent back surgery on Thursday, has been placed on injured reserve by the Kings and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. Fellow blueliner Willie Mitchell (knee surgery) is practicing and is close to returning.

Last edited by Aaronp18 on Mon Jan 28, 2013 3:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

When the Canucks faced the Bruins last season, the team played one of the best games. I would expect something similar against the Kings tonight. The Canucks will win this game by 2 goals and Schroeder will score his first NHL goal tonight with a laser beam wrister...